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Unedited copy as submitted for the July 27, 2001 issue of Airventure Today.
Around the Field
by Jack Hodgson

Old-timers and Newcomers at AirVenture Oshkosh 2001

Dave Guinn is holding court from his lawn chair in Row 29 of the North 40.

Dave flew for United for 33 years. He retired six years ago and now he flies his Bonanza on adventures all around North America. He's been coming to Oshkosh since 1975 and he's a fixture in the annual Bonanzas to Oshkosh flight.

"Part of what makes this fly-in great is that it gathers all these diverse people in one spot. It's cordial, peaceful, friendly. I think a lot of people come here for those feelings."

"People come to Oshkosh to meet other people; to talk with them. Not so many come for the airplanes. They'd probably disagree with that, but I think it's true. If you come here repeatedly, you probably come for the camaraderie."

Dave is part of the contingent from Pecan Airpark in Granbury, Texas. They have an active EAA community down there too.

"EAA is the cohesive force there," he says. "I'm not a builder, but I go to the meetings every month anyway. They have some good presentations and I get to meet all my neighbors. In our community if you want to meet your neighbors you go to the EAA meeting."

One of the things Dave uses his Bonanza for is to fly, at least once a month, to an orphanage in the State of Chiapas, Mexico. He's the president of the U.S. Corporation that supports the orphanage, which is called Hogar Infantile. It is home for 85 kids.

Dave's also something of a curmudgeon. Walk up and ask him something about airplanes he'll turn around and start quizzing you about your political beliefs. But it's all in a good-natured way. And I noticed, while I was talking to him, the women kept wandering by to say hi.

Thumbs up, thumbs down. Sitting by the side of a runway and watching planes land & takeoff is a major-league sport here at AirVenture. On Monday afternoon two enthusiastic participants were Keith and Claudia Paterson from Huntington, Indiana.

The Patersons made the eight-hour drive to Wittman Field on Sunday and plan to stay at Oshkosh until Saturday. This is their second time to the fly-in. Keith is a pilot but hasn't flown in awhile. He hopes to change that soon. He's here at Oshkosh looking for a plane. "We're thinking about a STOL series plane. We like that low and slow."

Although their guilty pleasure this day was to have seen a taildragger ground-loop in runway 36's crosswind, the things they really like best about Oshkosh are the seminars, like the Theater in the Woods, and the hands-on session. He's looking forward the welding seminars, and she likes the fabric wing covering.

Growing up at the Oshkosh Fly-In. "I've been flying since before I could see over the glare-screen. Flying with my Dad. I was flying IFR 'cause the instruments were all I could see. But I loved it." Mike "Gorilla" Goransky is telling us about his introduction to flying.

Mike came to his first Oshkosh Fly-In in 1970 when he was 15 years old. "I flew gliders at 14, I flew in the military, for U.S Airways, and now I'm into the Replica Fighters." In the Air National Guard Mike flew C-130s, A-7s and F-16s.

These days, in addition to U.S. Airways, he flies his 1962 V-Tail Bonanza, and is building a Stewart-51. He's dividing his time at AirVenture this year between the Replica Fighter clubhouse and talking with other S-51 builders at the Precision Aero Engineering tent.

Mike says, "I've been flying for as long as I can remember and I just can't imagine doing anything else."

In the 30+ years he's been coming to Oshkosh he's seen a lot of things. "Once, a lot of years ago, we were here a month early doing setup for the fly-in. It was a hot, hot day and we were working near the edge of the field. Paul Poberezney comes on by and asks us how things are going."

"'Pretty good,' we say. 'But we sure could use something to get us motivated.'"

"'I'll see what I can do,' Paul says."

"Well, we return to work and a little bit later we hear a Merlin engine in the distance. We run out and see Paul's Mustang make a screamin' low pass and sharp banking turn right over our heads."

"Later Paul drives by again and says, 'Hey, you guys.'"

""Yes Sir," we say."

"'You motivated yet?'"